Social insurance debt in Khanh Hoa increases, workers' rights are affected
According to Khanh Hoa Provincial Social Insurance, as of March 31, 2026, the total debt of social insurance, health insurance (HI), unemployment insurance (UI) and occupational accident and disease insurance is nearly 444 billion VND. Of which, the debt from labor-using units is more than 315 billion VND. Notably, more than 51 billion VND belongs to businesses that have ceased operations but have not completed their social insurance contribution obligations.
The whole province currently has 2,423 units owing social insurance for 1 month or more, with a total amount of more than 305 billion VND. Most of these debts are concentrated in the non-state business sector, of which 661 units owe for more than 6 months, with an amount of nearly 150 billion VND.
Businesses that are late in or evade social insurance contributions directly affect the rights of employees, causing them not to be resolved for sickness and maternity benefits, unable to finalize social insurance books when quitting their jobs, and facing difficulties in completing procedures to receive unemployment benefits. Many workers only detect businesses owing social insurance when completing procedures to enjoy benefits, leading to prolonged and complicated disputes. Mr. Huynh Thai Thinh (Nam Nha Trang ward) is a typical example. Despite being deducted social insurance money monthly, he discovered that the business owed more than 47 million VND when comparing with the social insurance agency. After more than 2 years of suing, he has not yet received unemployment benefits, seriously affecting his life.
Strong solutions are needed to protect workers
In Khanh Hoa, many businesses owe social insurance for many years with large amounts of money and lack cooperation in handling. Some businesses owe for decades, even have stopped operating but have not yet fulfilled their obligations. This is a group with a high risk of making workers not guarantee their rights.
According to Khanh Hoa Provincial Social Insurance, for many years, the situation of some businesses having large and prolonged debts and lacking cooperation with social insurance agencies in handling debts has been prominent, such as Nha Trang Shipbuilding One Member Limited Liability Company (debt for 106 months with an amount of 12.4 billion VND), Water Supply and Drainage Construction Joint Stock Company No. 12 (debt for 70 months with an amount of 1.3 billion VND), Ben Du Thuyen Hotel Joint Stock Company (debt for 73 months with an amount of over 1.88 billion VND), Hoa In Fashion Co., Ltd. Branch (debt for 14 months with an amount of over 2.1 billion VND).
Representatives of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Labor Federation said that in the past time, the Trade Union organization has supported many cases of workers suing businesses owing salaries and social insurance, but the number of cases resolved is still limited and not commensurate with the actual situation.
Reality shows that suing businesses owing social insurance still faces many difficulties, the processing time is prolonged, while employees are the biggest losers. If there are no strong enough measures, the situation of social insurance debt will continue to increase. "Tightening management and enhancing the responsibility of businesses is an urgent requirement. Protecting the rights of employees needs to be placed at the center of all solutions" - the representative of the Provincial Labor Federation emphasized.
Mr. Pham Xuan Hai - Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Social Insurance - said that in April, Khanh Hoa Provincial Social Insurance implemented a group of solutions to collect social insurance debts, with a focus on strengthening inspection and examination, coordinating with the police in preventing and combating acts of evading social insurance contributions. The Social Insurance Agency also proactively coordinates with levels and sectors to strengthen all solutions for collection and debt collection to ensure the rights and interests of employees participating in social insurance. The Social Insurance sector recommends that employees proactively monitor the participation process through the VssID - digital social insurance application. This is considered a tool to help employees control social insurance contributions of enterprises, thereby promptly detect violations and request handling.
